Big season in store for Euro contenders

Tournament organisers EPCR have today revealed the full fixture list for all six rounds in the pool stages of the Heineken Champions Cup and Challenge Cup.

Leinster Rugby, who last season became only the second club to win Europe’s elite club tournament for a fourth time, begin their defence against Wasps in Dublin on Friday, October 12 live on BT Sport.

While BT Sport continues to lead the television coverage of the Heineken Champions Cup and the competition will also have one key match per round broadcast free-to-air on Channel 4 and *TV3.

Former winners Bath and Toulouse kick off the free-to-air coverage when they meet in Pool 1 at the Recreation Ground on Saturday, October 13.

Premiership champions Saracens begin their campaign on Sunday, October 14 when they take on Glasgow Warriors at Scotstoun Stadium.

TOP 14 winners Castres Olympique make the journey to Kingsholm to face Gloucester Rugby in Pool 2 on Sunday, October 14, while Cardiff Blues, who triumphed in last season’s Challenge Cup, go head-to-head with tournament debutants Lyon at the Matmut Stadium de Gerland on the same day.

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To mark the start of what promises to be an eventful road to the 2019 Newcastle finals, Newcastle Falcons are back in Europe’s top flight for the first time since 2005 and they have a demanding opening fixture against RC Toulon at Stade Mayol.

Highlights of the vital back-to-back matches in Rounds 3 and 4 include the meeting of Saracens and Cardiff Blues, Munster’s clashes with Castres, Wasps against Toulouse and Racing 92 and Leicester Tigers.

All 60 matches in the pool stages of the Heineken Champions Cup will be broadcast live in the UK and Ireland on either BT Sport, Channel 4 or TV3, and in France on beIN SPORTS and France Télévisions.

With 12 European titles among the contenders, the Challenge Cup is set for another strong season and the meeting of former winners Northampton Saints and ASM Clermont Auvergne at Franklin’s Gardens on October 13 is one of a number of eye-catching fixtures.

*TV3’s free-to-air channels (TV3, 3e and be3) will be rebranded Virgin Media One, Virgin Media Two and Virgin Media Three on August 30. All live Heineken Champions Cup fixtures will be broadcast on Virgin Media One.

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